MUSIC MUSE: Country comes to Lake Erie Speedway

Quick hits

• Good news for fans of the Grateful Dead and Bob Marley. Each one will get a special night at the Crooked I in August. The Cause: A Tribute to the Grateful Dead is scheduled Aug. 9, while the following night will feature the Marley Project with Erie native and current Rusted Root member Preach Freedom. The Cause, from Pittsburgh, will re-create a particular Dead concert from 1965 to 1995, but won't reveal which one it was until the show's over. Also, one-man band Zach Deputy returns to the CI on Aug. 31.• Ready for this weekend's Blue Heron? I am. Thinking about it, though, got me wondering about Night Lights at the Heron, a cool event that features music at the Cafe in the Woods, plus an illuminated trail. That returns Aug. 3 on the Heron site in Sherman, N.Y. The Modified Nouns will play; they feature two former members of Big Leg Emma. Other performers include grunge cover band Beyond the Illusion (Aug. 17), Mason Winfield (Aug. 24), Rusted Root's Liz Berlin (Aug. 31), Black Rock Zydeco (Sept. 7) and A Night of Fire (fire-spinning show Oct. 5). The site also hosts a Fall Music Festival (Sept. 13-14) with more than a dozen acts including the area return of Schleigho, plus Marco Benevento, Heavy Pets, Aqueous, Smack-dab and more. Details are at www.heronnightlights.com.• University of Buffalo has announced its 27th annual Distinguished Speakers Series. Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton kicks it off in a big way on Oct. 23 at 8 p.m. Also coming: string-theory co-founder Michio Kaku (Sept. 25); author Malcolm Gladwell (Nov. 13); author-educator Mary Francis Berry and civil rights activist Myrlie Evers-Williams (Feb. 26); CNN medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta (March 26); and magician/illusionist David Blaine (April 26). Subscriptions go on sale Wednesday; individual tickets on Aug. 1 at www.buffalo.edu/dss.

richardsdERIE TIMES-NEWS

Country fans have reason to celebrate this summer: Lake Erie Speedway is going gonzo with concerts, if hosting three national shows qualifies as gonzo.

Sure it does.

You already know about Chris Cagle, who plays July 14 with guests Refuge and Small Town Revolution. That show was announced awhile ago.

Now comes word that LES will feature two more shows on back-to-back nights in late August. First up: a ladies night, of sorts, with Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan co-headlining on Aug. 28, plus Erie's Amanda Post opening up. Tickets are $20 for grandstand or $25 for seats on the track.

The following night, Aug. 29, LES will welcome another co-headlining show: Jo Dee Messina and the legendary John Anderson. Jonalee White and Small Town Revolution will also perform. Tickets for that are $25 grandstand or $30 for track seats.

Can't decide on which show to attend? You can save a bit by getting a combo pass for both nights. Cost is $35 for grandstand or $45 for track tickets. Gates will open at 6:30 p.m. with a 7:30 p.m. show time for both concerts, presented by JBZ Promotions.

Dio Disciples headline Rockin' the Grapes on July 20 with special guests Hair Nation and Oliverio. Tickets are $15 advance, $20 at the gate.

Vancouver Celtic-rockers Town Pants top the bill for the Grape Escape on July 27. Consuelo's Revenge, Sim Redmond Band, the Howlin' Brothers, Mike Slo-Mo Brenner, the Weedrags, Lorne Keoguo and Back Door Men also play. Tickets are $15 before July 17; the price rises to $25 after that.

Alex Kates (Aug. 16) and Gary Hoey (Aug. 17) top the bill for the Royal Southern Brotherhood festival.

Jammin in the Vine IV wraps it up with special guest Sister Hazel on Aug. 24. Big Leg Emma, Smackdab, Gina V & the Barn Cats also play. Tickets are $25 advance, $30 day of show.

Reggae legend Yellowman will headline the Midwest Reggae Festival from Aug. 9 to 11 at Nelson Ledges Quarry Park in Garrettsville, Ohio. He was good at Grape Jam in Wattsburg back in 1998.

Also on the bill: Nigeria's Victor Essiet and the Mandators, along with Blue Riddim Band, Marty Dread, Carlos Jones & the Plus Band, Ark Band, One World Tribe, Flex Crew, Outlaws I & I, and Roots High Power Sound System.